Dreams—are well—but Waking's better,
If One wake at morn—
If One wake at Midnight—better—
Dreaming—of the Dawn—
Sweeter—the Surmising Robins—
Never gladdened Tree—
Than a Solid Dawn—confronting—
Leading to no Day—
"Dreams—are well—but Waking's better" Emily Dickinson
Chapter 6
Sleep did not come easy to Severus, it never had but that night was one of the worst he had had in a long time. Anytime he was awake, he could hear Minerva's shallow and pained breathing or a simple cough that sent him into a storm of chills. When he did manage to sleep, all his troubled mind could do was replay the moment when he, Severus, brought Minerva back to the school.
Once more Severus awoke, cursing his plagued memories. He flipped over, looking at Minerva, the moonlight shining over her body. Several times already Poppy had switched her bandages from her hands. Severus wondered if the wounds would ever heal. Not only the physical but the emotional as well. A wizard or witch was not a very good one if their defenses were weakened by emotional pain. Severus sighed and stared back up at the ceiling. He had never noticed it before but it was actually enchanted like the great hall. It seemed to soothe his senses more then he realized…
"Help! Someone get help!"
Severus had magicked a stretcher out of thin air and had gently placed Minerva on it only minutes before he had quickly tried to make his way up to the castle. It was snowing still which only made the going tougher. At least it reflected the moonlight so that he could see where he was going. His unbuckled boots which he had thrown on in a hurry had no traction against the slippery slopes and Severus had fallen numerous times. He was almost to the Great Hall…
"Help! I need help down here!"
His efforts were futile. The whole school was still sleeping in their beds surrounded by warmth and had no clue just how bad the world was right now for Professors Snape and McGonagall. Finally he reached the great oak doors and pushed them open with all of his might. He slowly placed Minerva inside, careful not to hurt her as she came in through the door. The Great Hall was absolutely deserted.
"Help! Help!"
Severus' voice rang echoes throughout the vast hallway. He began to hastily make his way up the stairs, still shouting. If Dumbledore hadn't been out on one of his evening strolls, Minerva just might not have made it.
"Severus? What's going on? What is the matter?"
Albus' eyes where full of worry and confusion.
"It's Minerva… she-he's… hurt. Really badly."
Severus gasped for air and panted between his words. Albus' brows furrowed with even more worry then before.
"Severus, where is she?"
Severus clung to the handrail on the stairs and with his freehand pointed backwards to her. Albus looked over to where he was pointing and quickened his pace to where she was. He pulled back the many blankets Severus had put on her and cringed with pain as he saw her. She was gasping for air.
"Minerva…can you hear me?"
More gasping.
" Oxyegenius Restora Maximus. Minerva, can you hear me?"
Her breathing was slightly regained but her voice stayed mute and her eyes lidded. Dumbledore looked to Severus who had followed Dumbledore over.
"Severus, I need you to wake Poppy up. Tell her it is urgent and we need her help right away."
Severus nodded, clutching to a stitch in his side and began to run up the stairs. Without warning Severus' head began to spin and he blacked out.
"Severus? Dear? The house elves brought you some food…"
Snape blinked his eyes open. The Hospital wing was turning Orange with the coming of dawn as Poppy stood over Severus. Severus looked over to Minerva who was still not awake. He sighed and his bed was magicked up by Poppy and she placed a steaming bowl of oatmeal in front of him and handed him a spoon.
"There you go. You really should eat something Severus. You haven't eaten in two days by my guess."
As if in agreement, his stomach grumbled slightly. He didn't touch the oatmeal though but instead looked up to Poppy.
"Minerva hasn't eaten anything in a lot longer time then I have."
Poppy nodded.
"Yes well, I've been giving her sleeping potions for the last two days to ease her pain. I'll be giving her an awakening potion today so that she can eat. If you'd like you could stay and help me out by watching her and informing me when she wakes up."
Severus quickly nodded; he felt he owed a debt to Poppy but also to Minerva. He then happily dug into his food, happy that he would be the one to talk to Minerva first. A little while later, someone brought up his clothing and he changed into it, glad to finally be out of his pajamas. He slowly made his way around to her bed and sat down watching as Poppy gave Minerva the potion.
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